Benedict Cumberbatch Confirmed Voice of Smaug and Luke Evans Cast as Bard in ‘The Hobbit’

Luke Evans

Benedict Cumberbatch

Two Hobbit casting rumors were laid to rest today as it was announced by Deadline New York that Luke Evans was cast as Bard the Grim and Benedict Cumberbatch is to be the voice of Smaug the dragon. It was just last month Martin Freeman (cast as Bilbo Baggins) let it slip that his Sherlock co-star, Benedict Cumberbatch, had been cast but keep his exact role under raps sending all kinds of rumors flying. With Luke Evans filling the role of Bard we might not be seeing much of him until the seconded instalment, The Hobbit: There and Back Again (in theaters on December 13th, 1213), as Bard the Grim has a bigger role towards the end of the story.

Middle-earth News wants to know what you think of this latest news. Are you excited about The Hobbit’s new cast members?

Martin Freeman Leaks Benedict Cumberbatch’s Involvement in ‘The Hobbit’

Benedict Cumberbatch

Thanks to Martin Freeman, who goes by Bilbo Baggins in Middle-earth, we now know his his co-star Benedict Cumberbatch (from the UK show Sherlock) has landed a part in The Hobbit. The news was leaked during the Bafta Awards this past Sunday by non other than Freeman himself who later commented about his inability to keep secrets saying, “I knew I was a sort of a big mouth but I didn't realise to what extent I was a big mouth, and I've just ruined everything...I might not actually go back to a job - they might have just sacked me." When asked what his exact roll would be in the film, Cumberbatch’s only response was, “I can't say at the moment, thank you very much." Seems he is more apt to keep the information secret and safe.